Question 1

What Is a Mass Tort Lawsuit?

Accepted Answer

A mass tort lawsuit is a civil action in which many individual plaintiffs bring related claims against the same defendant or group of defendants for injuries caused by the same wrongful act, defective product, or toxic exposure. Unlike a class action, each plaintiff in a mass tort retains an individual case with damages tailored to their specific harm. Common mass tort categories include defective drugs, defective medical devices, toxic substances, groundwater contamination, environmental pollution, explosions, and commercial plane crashes. Mass torts often involve hundreds or thousands of plaintiffs across multiple federal districts.

Question 2

How Is a Mass Tort Different From a Class Action?

Accepted Answer

A mass tort consists of separate, individually filed lawsuits that are often coordinated through Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) under 28 U.S.C. § 1407, while a class action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 treats all plaintiffs as one collective with a class representative. In a mass tort, each plaintiff has their own case, their own jury trial right, and their own damages award. Class actions are typically used where individual damages are small and similar; mass torts are used where injuries differ in severity and individualized proof is required, as with pharmaceutical injuries, medical devices, and toxic exposure cases.

Question 3

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Mass Tort Claims in PA and NJ?

Accepted Answer

Pennsylvania imposes a two-year statute of limitations on most mass tort personal injury claims under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, and a two-year deadline on wrongful death actions under 42 Pa. C.S. § 8301. New Jersey applies the same two-year deadlines under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 (personal injury) and N.J.S.A. 2A:31-3 (wrongful death). Both states recognize the discovery rule, which generally starts the clock when the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known of the injury and its cause — a critical doctrine in pharmaceutical and toxic exposure cases where harm may emerge years after exposure.

Question 4

What Types of Cases Does Cohen, Placitella & Roth Handle as Mass Torts?

Accepted Answer

Cohen, Placitella & Roth handles mass tort cases involving defective drugs and medical devices, toxic and environmental exposures (asbestos, talcum powder, contaminated water), industrial explosions, and consumer product defects. Senior shareholders Stewart Cohen, Harry Roth, Christopher M. Placitella, and James P. Goslee have served in leadership roles in major MDL and consolidated proceedings, and the firm has been involved in some of the largest pharmaceutical and asbestos cases in U.S. history. The firm has the financial resources to fund expert witnesses, document review, and years of litigation that mass tort cases typically require.

Question 5

How Long Does a Mass Tort Lawsuit Take?

Accepted Answer

Mass tort lawsuits typically take two to five years to resolve, and complex cases involving thousands of plaintiffs and contested liability can take longer. The MDL process generally begins with the selection of bellwether trial cases — representative plaintiffs whose verdicts help drive global settlements. Once a settlement framework is reached, individual claims are evaluated under a points-based or matrix system that accounts for diagnosis severity, exposure history, age, and economic damages. Cases with serious or terminal injuries are often expedited.

Question 6

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Mass Tort Case?

Accepted Answer

Compensation in a mass tort case can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and — where supported — punitive damages. Wrongful death claims may include funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship. Settlement values vary based on the strength of liability evidence, the severity of the injury, and the financial resources of the defendants. According to industry estimates, 10,000–20,000 new mass tort cases are filed each year, with multi-billion-dollar global settlements common in major MDLs.

Question 7

How Can I Contact a Philadelphia Mass Tort Lawyer?

Accepted Answer

You can contact Cohen, Placitella & Roth's Philadelphia mass tort lawyers by calling (888) 572-7388 or by visiting the firm's Philadelphia office at 2001 Market Street, Suite 2900, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Free, no-obligation case evaluations are available. The firm has been a national leader in mass tort and MDL practice for decades, with senior shareholders who have served on plaintiffs' steering committees in major federal proceedings.

Question 8

How Can I Contact a New Jersey Mass Tort Lawyer?

Accepted Answer

Cohen, Placitella & Roth has two New Jersey offices for mass tort matters. The Red Bank office is at 127 Maple Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701, reachable at (732) 747-9003. The Cherry Hill office is at 601 Longwood Ave, Suite A, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, reachable at (856) 528-8688. Free consultations are available, and the firm represents mass tort clients throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and nationwide federal MDLs.

142%

10,000-20,000

$10 Billion

Christopher M. Placitella

Rachel A. Placitella

Michael Coren

Jared M. Placitella

Eric S. Pasternack

Justin I. Placitella

Drew M. Renzi

Mass Tort FAQs

What is a mass tort?

How is a mass tort different from a class action?

What types of cases are typically handled as mass torts?

Do I need to do anything special to join a mass tort?

What compensation can I recover in a mass tort case?

How long do I have to file a mass tort lawsuit?

How long do mass tort cases typically take to resolve?

How much does it cost to hire a mass tort attorney?

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